As of writing this, I am halfway through my time in Greece. We have traveled to many different cities and seen a lot of other things! When I first arrived in Thessaloniki (after experiencing many delays in the U.S.), I found it beautiful. I was able to see Mount Olympus from my dorm room, and the views were spectacular. My favorite thing about Thessaloniki was its rich history. There is a massive gate in the city center that Alexander the Great rode through when he conquered Greece. There are many similar landmarks in the city, which I found very interesting! The classes are interesting since we get to go see and hear from local business owners and even a high-ranking government official. We got to see the Aegean coastline and swim in the Gulf while riding in sailboats, hike for a couple of hours on Mount Olympus, and tour various monasteries in Historia.
We have taken many excursions, but those have been my favorites so far. Many locals know English as a second language, but some do not. I have been able to communicate with non-English speakers by using hand gestures and Google Translate when necessary. They are also very welcoming and friendly. At the monastery gift shop, I had to communicate with a nun who did not know English. I had to point to the product I wanted, but she gave me two different products, including the one I wanted. Instead of trying to communicate that I only wanted one of them, I ended up getting both. As we prepare to go home, I am buying as many gifts as I can carry for friends and family. I realize that I might not be back in Greece, so I have no problem with buying anything I find interesting.